Vol.. III.] 



FIGWORT FAMILY 



7. Veronica serpyllifolia L,. Thyme- 

 leaved Speedwell. (Fig. 3293.) 

 Veronica serpyllifolia L. Sp. PI. 12. 1753. 



Perennial, puberulent or glabrous; stems slender, 

 decumbent, branched, the branches ascending or 

 erect, 2'-io' high. Leaves all opposite and petioled, 

 or the uppermost sessile, oblong, oval, or ovate, 

 % f -Yz' long, crenulate or entire; flowers in short 

 spicate racemes at the end of the stem and branches; 

 pedicels equalling or longer than the calyx, usu- 

 ally shorter than the bractlets; corolla pale blue 

 with darker stripes,sometimeswhite,about2 // broad; 

 capsule broader than high, broadly obcordate or 

 emarginate at the summit, about \" long, about 

 equalling the calyx; seeds flat, numerous. 



In fields and thickets, Labrador to Alaska, south to 

 Georgia, New Mexico and California. Also in Europe, 

 Asia and South America. Ascends to 2600 ft. in the 

 Catskills. April-Aug-. 



8. Veronica peregrina L,. Purslane Speed- 

 well. Neckweed. (Fig. 3294.) 



Veronica peregrina L,- Sp. PI. 14. 1753. 



Annual, glabrous, or glandular-puberulent; stem 

 erect or ascending, simple or branched, 3 / -i2 / high. 

 Leaves oblong, oval, linear or slightly spatulate, 

 3 // -io // long, obtuse or acutish, the lowest opposite, 

 short-petioled, or sessile, broader than the upper and 

 usually denticulate,the upper alternate,sessile, mostly 

 entire, each with a short-pedicelled flower in its axil; 

 flowers nearly white, about i // broad; pedicels much 

 shorter than the calyx; capsule nearly orbicular, ob- 

 cordate, usually a little shorter than the calyx, \ ,r - 

 \]/ z " high, many-seeded, the seeds flat. 



In moist places, and common as a weed in cultivated 

 soil, Nova Scotia to British Columbia, south to Florida, 

 Mexico and California. Also in Central and South Amer- 

 ica, and distributed as a weed in the Old World. May- 

 Oct. 



g. Veronica arvensis L. Corn or 

 Wall Speedwell. (Fig. 3295.) 



Veronica arvensis L- Sp. PI. 13. 1753- 



Annual, pubescent; stem slender, at first sim- 

 ple and erect, at length much branched and 

 diffuse, 3 / -io / long. Lower leaves ovate or 

 oval, opposite, obtuse at both ends, crenate or 

 crenulate, 2 // -6 // long, the lowest petioled; 

 upper leaves sessile, alternate, ovate or lanceo- 

 late, acute or acutish, commonly entire, each 

 with a short pedicelled minute flower in its 

 axil; pedicels shorter than the calyx; corolla 

 blue, or nearly white, i // broad or less; capsule 

 broadly obovate, obcordate, \" high. 



In fields, woods and waste places and in culti- 

 vated soil, Nova Scotia to Ontario and Minnesota, 

 south to Florida, Kansas and Texas. Also in Ber- 

 muda. Naturalized from Europe. Native also of 

 Asia. March-Sept. 



